5 Steps for Successful Start in the Cleaning Services Industry

1. Residential or Commercial?Decide whether you will offer cleaning services for residential, commercial or both. While both residential and commercial cleaners will need to be bonded and insured, the need for a business license will depend on your location and its bylaws. The manner in which you price the jobs will be very different as well. Residential cleaning, otherwise known as a maid service will be priced by the number of duties the homeowner needs performed whereas most commercial cleaning services charge according to square footage for a basic service with the opportunity to add additional services such as drapes, windows, carpet shampoo and cleaning, etc. With residential, there is the opportunity to use the homeowners cleaning equipment while you provide only the cleaning supplies. You may prefer to buy a more industrial grade of cleaning supplies for commercial cleaning to accommodate the frequency of use and need for transportation from office cleaning site to site.

2. Be a JoinerLook at joining your National or Local Business Association, Community Cultural Group and local Charities. These organizations provide an excellent opportunity to learn the ins and outs of operating a business in your area and how to navigate the business licensing system. You may be able to locate a mentor to help you organize and build up your business. Participating in local events has the added bonus of free advertising and exposure to your potential customer base. By associating your service with known and respected businesses, you will be able to further legitimize yourself in the eyes of your customer base. These types of associations tend to act as a stamp of approval in the eyes of the public.

3. Know the competitionDon’t just research the cleaning services competition in your area; also look at the breakdown of cleaning services in the neighboring cities. Compare their pricing to that of your chosen area as well as their list of offered services, they may have found some markets that you hadn’t considered. By contacting them and creating a professional friendship, you may be able to have a referral relationship. That way, if they are offered a job outside of their area, they could name you as a potential service provider or you could help them for the times that they have more jobs than they can properly handle.

4. A Little Help from Your Friends?Check with your bank or financial institution. There may be both private and government grants and start up money available for new entrepreneurs. Qualifying for a new or small business program could be a benefit to you in many ways. You could be paired with an experienced business person in the area that will help you break into the local industry as well as expose you to potential clients and niches within the business that you may not have previously considered.

5. Ease Into ItConsider working part time while you build your clientele to ease the pressure on your new business. After all, most cleaning businesses must operate outside of normal business hours, which will not interfere with a part time day schedule. Having a reliable steady income will also prevent you from having to eat only canned beans for the first few months while you wait for new clients to pay their month-end bills. You may even be able to make more contacts through the exposure to your part time business’s clientele. Above all, it will prevent you from giving up during the most difficult part, the initial start up of the business.

Author Bio: Devon Delaney is a lifelong cleaning enthusiast and dusting maniac. When not figuring out new uses for baking soda and vinegar he is sharing is knowledge and love for the cleaning arts on for Status Clean.